abseil

/ˌæbˈseɪl/

To abseil is to lower yourself down a wall, mountain, or cliff using special ropes and anchors. When you abseil down a steep rock face, make sure you have a climbing partner there to help you!

Another word for abseil is rappel, which is more commonly used by U.S. climbers. Abseil is from the German abseilen, "to rope down," and that's exactly what a climber does during a descent. An abseiler controls their own movements down a securely anchored rope, using special equipment and making slow, controlled movements to descend safely.

Definitions of abseil

1. noun

   (mountaineering) a descent of a vertical cliff or wall made by using a doubled rope that is fixed to a higher point and wrapped around the body
   synonyms: rappel

   type of:

   descent

   the act of changing your location in a downward direction
2. verb

   lower oneself with a rope coiled around the body from a mountainside
   “You have to learn how to abseil when you want to do technical climbing”

   synonyms: rappel, rope down

   type of:

   come down, descend, fall, go down

   move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way